Hair salons you need to know about

Updated on 9th November 2018 by Expat Living|

Brunettes, blondes, redheads and everything in between – it’s time to reclaim your salon mojo: we’re opening up our little black book of the top locations for a trim, colouring, highlights, hair treatments and even extensions! Who made the cut? We’ve done the legwork and sussed out seven top hair salons and haircare centres that’ll help you achieve the tresses of your dreams.

Trimmings

In view of her upcoming nuptials, SUSANNAH JAFFER visits Trimmings Salon & Spa to have her highlights refreshed.

Situated in the lush and green Dempsey Hill area, Trimmings Salon & Spa is always a pleasure to visit. Founded in 2008 by Amanda Ong, the beautiful salon has a loyal following of both expats and locals and a strong reputation for delivering outstanding colour.

Before

A few days before the actual treatment, I had a consultation with my hair artist Ivan Tan. I’m a natural brunette, with blonde highlights that over time had left my hair looking slightly brassy. With my wedding coming up, I wanted my locks to look their healthiest, so I decided to go dark (full head colour, $125) with very fine ash blonde highlights ($320) for a fresh look. Ivan was patient, flicking through my Pinterest board inspiration and giving his feedback.

On the day of the treatment, I’m escorted to my salon chair and served a refreshing ginger tea. After confirming what we agreed on, Ivan sets to work first on the ash blonde foil highlights. He then brushes through the all-over dark ash brown brunette shade that promises and delivers rich, glossy colour. After half an hour of development, the product is washed off with nourishing Aveda products – specifically the Clove shampoo and conditioner for brown and honey tones.

Finally, a quick trim and a bouncy blow-dry later, and I’m out the door! The colour is exactly what I asked for, and I couldn’t be happier.

Vox Studio Aveda Salon Spa

Store Located on the top floor of a shophouse in bustling Killiney Road, Vox Studio is a hair salon, boutique spa and retail outlet in one. Frequented by both locals and expats alike, this salon offers personalised, top-to-toe pampering by its crew of experienced hair professionals and therapists from around the world.

It offers treatments that specifically cater to Caucasian hair, including the Natural Botanical Tint colouring treatment, as well as lowlights or highlights. Vox Studio uses Aveda’s original natural botanical hair colours, Full Spectrum and Full Spectrum Deep, developed through 20 years of research. If you’re dealing with damaged locks, treat yourself to the Botanical Hair Therapy, an intensive treatment to revitalise and strengthen weak hair. This specially designed service includes a relaxing shoulder, back and hand massage ritual, alongside styling, too!

Apart from hair services, you can also pamper yourself with a range of indulgent facial treatments and relaxing body massages. A popular pick for busy individuals is the Stress-fix body massage, which uses a calming aroma and unique massage technique exclusive to Aveda.

Jermyn Street

Gents, hands up if you’re keen on a new look! Located in buzzy Amoy Street, this high-end barber offers top-notch men’s grooming services by experienced barbers trained at leading hair institutes in the UK and Australia. Jermyn Street is inspired by London’s Jermyn Street, home to a quality mix of bespoke tailors, traditional barbers and related businesses. Whether you’re particular about your cut, or just want an hour of me-time, this is the spot for grooming your mane.

Have a big event to attend? The quick wash and style ($30) will have you looking suave and dapper within 20 minutes. But if you have more time to spare, consider indulging in the full works: a signature haircut and luxury hot-towel, straight razor shave combo (priced from $145), which takes approximately an hour and 45 minutes.

Kelture

In need of a complete makeover after a bad hair job, LEANDA RATHMELL heads to Kelture Aveda Lifestyle Spa Salon for a detox treatment, a brand new colour and a reshaping cut.

Before

Perfect for some pre- or post-shopping pampering, Kelture Aveda Lifestyle Spa Salon is ideally located at Paragon Shopping Centre and hits the perfect balance of minimalist style and comfort. Despite the swanky postcode, the team here is nothing but friendly and welcoming. I had an evening of laughter with my stylist, Augustine, who kept my cup of Aveda Organic Tea full and the conversation flowing as he worked his magic.

I have a simple and fail-safe rule when trying new salons: follow the Japanese. Their constant pursuit of perfection and their dedication to their craft generally ensures great results. With many of Kelture’s team and loyal clientele hailing from Japan, I hoped for a solution to my problem – an over-bleached, brassy and shapeless mop. It had been close to four months since my hair had received any TLC, with my last colouring job ending in a complete disaster!

After

Augustine began my treatment with a treatment reserved for critical cases like mine – a hair detox ($140). Though somewhat time consuming, this process neutralises the hair and rids it of its previous colour: it allows for a fresh start on a blank canvas, rather than just a cover-up job that would wash away quickly. Then he took me through the various steps of my transformation, from the dimensional highlights ($280) to the colour and root blending ($180), all using organic and eco-friendly products from Aveda. The final step was a complete remodel and cut ($95), leaving me with shape and bounce that worked perfectly with the natural brunette tones I had asked for.

Several weeks on, I’m happy to report that the colour and shape remain!

La Source Spa & Hair

La Source Spa & Hair is popular for its creative colouring services, including highlights, balayage and ombre. We chat with an experienced creative stylist from the team, FREDERIC MOOI.

Extremely knowledgeable in the area of haircare and product chemistry, Frederic has 18 years of hairstyling experience. From creative colour to texture control and keratin smoothing treatments, he tailors each appointment to the needs of the client.

Why did you take up hairstyling?

I’m a hands-on person. Hairdressing allows me to use my skills to enhance my clients’ appearance – so that’s great! What do you like most about your job? Creating beautiful hairstyles and seeing the smiles of satisfaction on people’s faces is what makes hairdressing so worthwhile.

How do you treat hair frizz that’s caused by humidity?

For a lasting result, I recommend a softening treatment, as you only need to touch up the regrowth when it grows out. Avoid redoing the ends, as over-processing will result in your hair losing its elasticity. Keratin treatments provide semi-permanent results; you need to touch up only every six months.

For temporary smoothness, you could try anti-frizz hair products. A good pick is the Kerastase Discipline Fluidissime Anti-Frizz haircare range, which can be used on a daily basis. Home maintenance is very important, too. All salon treatments should be followed up with homecare products.

What are your top haircare tips?

Beautiful hair starts from the roots, so don’t neglect the scalp! Scalp products are meant for the scalp, and likewise, hair products are formulated for the hair. Scalp and hair treatments should become part of your monthly regime – yes, exactly like your monthly facial.

Hair Dreams

Having had successful scalp treatments years ago and knowing that they do help with stimulating growth, I was really pleased to hear that Hairdreams offers both scalp treatments and extensions. Not only could I get my extensions done for more volume, I could also get my scalp scanned and exfoliated.

For the extensions, I was a bit nervous about getting the right fit for my salt-and-pepper hair that’s also fine and curly, as the extensions are all made from healthy, real hair, with no colouring or chemicals.

After

Thankfully, there were options for wavy hair, in the exact colour that I wanted my hair to be. In way less time than a regular hairdresser would take, my stylist Yvonne had highlighted my hair to perfectly match the extensions.

She was also really quick in assessing the colour, type and placement of the extensions I would need. The process was fast; it took only about 20 minutes.

Glower Hair Care Centre

Just as heat harms the hair, so do the multiple chemical processing hair treatments offered in salons. Chemically straightening or lightening your hair causes damage to the hair shaft, weakening it and resulting in hair loss. The build-up of residue from pollution, dead skin cells and styling products can also cause excessive hair loss.

Specialists in treating thinning hair, the team at Glower Hair Care combines Chinese and European herbs, multivitamins, light therapy, ozone therapy and restorative massage techniques, for a treatment regime that maximises the health and wellbeing of the hair and scalp.

Also, as an affiliate of the Ashley & Martin Group, this hair care centre has access to all the latest medical options for treating hair loss. Look out for three newly launched programmes: Tricho Stimulating Treatment, which stimulates hair follicles to encourage regrowth; Seborrheic Control Therapy to cleanse the scalp and promote healthy hair growth; and Texturising Treatment Therapy to nourish and revitalise lifeless or damaged hair.

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